"Do you think you can bear it, mother?" Ruth questioned, the tears welling suddenly up into her eyes. "Oh yes," she answered, with a pathetic smile. "There'll be nothing to worry about, you know, and I shall have plenty to eat." Ruth threw her arms about her mother's neck and burst into a passion of tears. "Oh, I never thought we should come to this!" she sobbed. [Illustration: "RUTH THREW HER ARMS ABOUT HER MOTHER'S NECK AND BURST INTO A PASSION OF TEARS."] "It won't matter, my girl, when we are in heaven," was the quiet and patient answer. "But we are not in heaven, mother. We are here on this wicked, cruel earth, and it breaks my heart to see you suffer so." "My child, the suffering is in the past. The storm has done its worst. I feel as though I couldn't worry any more. I am just going to be still and wait." "I shall come and see you as often as I can," Ruth said, giving her mother a final hug, "and you'll not lose heart, will you?" "No. I shall think of you and Ralph, and if there's a ray of hope anywhere I shall cherish it." So they parted. Ruth watched her mother march away through a long corridor in charge of an attendant, watched her till a door swung and hid her from sight. Then, brushing her hand resolutely across her eyes, she turned away to face the world alone. CHAPTER XVII DEVELOPMENTS The Penlogans' cottage had been empty two full days before the people of St. Goram became aware that anything unusual had happened. That Ruth and her mother were reduced to considerable straits was a matter of common knowledge. People could not dispose of a quantity of their furniture without the whole neighbourhood getting to know, and in several quarters--notably at the Wheat Sheaf, and in Dick Lowry's smithy, and in the shop of William Menire, general dealer--the question was discussed as to how long the Penlogans could hold out, and what would become of them in the end. To offer them charity was what no one had the courage to do, and for a Penlogan to ask it was almost inconceivable. Since the event which had landed Ralph in prison, Mrs. Penlogan and Ruth had withdrawn themselves more than ever from public gaze. They evidently wanted to see no one, and it was equally clear they desired no one to see them. What little shopping they did was done after dark, and when Ruth went to chapel she stole in late, and retired before the congregation could get a look at her. Hence for two days no one noticed that no smoke appeared above the chimney of the Penlogans' cottage, and that no one had been seen going in or coming out of the house. On the third day, however, William Menire--whose store they had patronised while they had any money to spend--became uneasy in his mind on account of the non-appearance of Ruth.